In the world of electric toothbrushes, there are two brands that lead the competition: Oral B and Philips Sonicare. With each brand having lots of models available, we’ve often written about the difference between each and every model to help you with your purchase decision.

Below, you’ll find a compilation of all comparisons posts for the most popular electric toothbrush models we’ve written about so far.

Oral B Comparisons:

What sets Oral B apart from Philips Sonicare is the round brush. This round brush works by rotating and oscillating around each and every tooth to give you 3D cleaning experience. It is very effective in removing plaque and polishing teeth. Oral B toothbrush heads are available in different designs to help you target a number of dental issues.

Philips Sonicare Comparisons:

Philip’s electric toothbrushes work with Sonicare technology that provides up to 31,000 strokes per minute. These rapid strokes work on removing more plaque than manual brushing and improving gum health. Sonicare’s brush heads look like a manual toothbrush, but they’re available in different sizes and hardness levels to suit every need.

Oral B, the leading brand for Electric toothbrushes, is always working on improving their line of products. And what we’re about to look at now is an example of how innovative their toothbrushes are and the amazing experience they can give you.

In this post, we’ll be looking at the features of Oral B GENIUS 8000, Oral B 7000, Sonicare Diamond and how they all compare to each other.

The NEW Genius 8000 pairs with your smartphone to enable Position Detection which uses facial recognition to help you know where you've brushed, so you never miss a zoneCustomizable multicolor SmartRing provides real-time visual coaching on brushing time and pressure to help you brush like your dentist recommendsPressure sensor technology automatically slows brush speed and visibly alerts you to protect gums from over-brushing6 cleaning modes allow you to brush based on your needs: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Tongue Cleaning and Pro-Clean ModeSmart Travel Case allows you to charge your toothbrush and your smartphone at the same time

The Oral B 7000 also has Bluetooth connectivity to connect to your Smartphone and guides you through the companion app. It also has the same 6 cleaning modes, same 3 refill brush heads. But it’s different in these features:

The travel case of the Oral B 7000 does not have the charging capability. So when traveling, instead of using the Travel case to charge your brush like the Oral B 8000, you’ll have to use the corded charging base.

Oral B 7000 has a wireless Smart Guide which displays the 2-minute timer and shows you which cleaning mode you’re using. On the Oral B 8000, the timer is built-in and the cleaning mode indicator is also on the brush handle.

Oral B 7000 does NOT have the customizable Smart Ring.

No Position Detection on the Oral B 7000, either. The Smart Guide of the 7000 guides you through each zone of your mouth, but it does not give you details of your brushing activity like the Oral B 8000 would, which uses facial recognition to let you know if you’ve missed any part of your teeth.

The NEW Genius 8000 pairs with your smartphone to enable Position Detection which uses facial recognition to help you know where you've brushed, so you never miss a zoneCustomizable multicolor SmartRing provides real-time visual coaching on brushing time and pressure to help you brush like your dentist recommendsPressure sensor technology automatically slows brush speed and visibly alerts you to protect gums from over-brushing6 cleaning modes allow you to brush based on your needs: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Tongue Cleaning and Pro-Clean ModeSmart Travel Case allows you to charge your toothbrush and your smartphone at the same time

Removes up to 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrushImproves gum health in only two weeksWhitens teeth in just one week5 brushing modesDiamond Clean brush head for Philips Sonicare' s best whitening and Adaptive Clean brush head for Philips Sonicare' s best plaque removal

Diamond Clean has a unique Cup charger and a charging travel case. The Cup, which can also be used for rinsing, has an induction base, so once you put the brush handle in it, it starts charging. As for the travel case, like Oral B 8000, it has a built-in battery that allows you to charge the toothbrush and any other USB device.

Diamond Clean comes with a total of 3 brush heads, like the Oral B 8000.

It has a built-in 2 minute timer.

The Sonicare Diamond Clean does NOT have Bluetooth connectivity or a companion app.

Watch Video Reviews:

Fitbit Flex has been around for quite sometime, making it a popular choice among users who wish to track their activities. With the release of the Fitbit Flex 2, if you already own a Flex band, then you must be wondering whether or not it is worth it to upgrade. If you’re a first time buyer, you might be contemplating whether to go for the new Fitbit Flex (obviously) or the very similar Alta band, also by Fitbit. All these questions will be answered in this post that will hopefully help you with your buying decision.

Features of the Fitbit Flex 2:

Ultra-slim design with a removable tracker module that can be moved and fitted into other accessories like bands, pendants or bangles.

How Is The Fitbit Flex 2 Different Than Flex 1?

Image

Title

Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband, Black

Fitbit Flex 2, Black

Feature

Tracks steps, distance, calories burned and active minutesMonitor how long and well you sleepWakes you (and not your partner) with a silent wake alarmLED lights show how your day is stacking up against your goalSlim, comfortable and easy to wear (sold with both large and small wristbands included)Includes small and large wristbands

Track steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. Comes with both small and large size bandUltra-thin, removable tracker hides in bands, pendants and banglesSwim-proof for tracking swimming, life-proof for wear in the ocean, shower, pool and beyondSmartTrack automatically recognizes select workouts and records them to your Fitbit app; Get call and text notifications on your wrist with unique vibration patterns and color-coded LED lightsAutomatically track how long and how well you sleep, and set a silent alarm to wake with a small vibration; LED display lights up to show progress toward your daily goal

When it comes to tracking, both Flex and Flex 2 track the same activities: steps, active minutes, distance, calories, sleep quality.

However, Flex 2 is the first swim-proof band from Fitbit that allows you to track swimming activities.

Also, Flex 2 has SmartTrack technology that automatically recognizes some workouts and records them in your Fitbit app.

Design:

Flex 2 is noticeably slimmer than the Flex. It also has a different clasp design that works better than the first one.

Flex 2 is available in 4 colors: Black, Lavender, Magenta and Navy.

Additional accessories for Flex 2 allow you to change how you wear your tracker: either in a necklace (pendant) or a bangle available in Gold, Rose Gold or Silver.

Notifications:

The original Flex band didn’t receive any notifications from your phone.

Now, the Flex 2 is able to receive call or text notifications. While you can’t view the text or caller ID, the notifications are Color-coded so each color will indicate whether it’s a call or text notification.

Battery Life:

You should expect the same battery life from both Flex 2 and Flex, up to 5 days.

Flex 2 or Alta, Which Band To Choose?

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Title

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, Small

Fitbit Flex 2, Black

Feature

Track steps, distance, calories burned and active minutesSee stats and time with a bright OLED tap displayAutomatically track how long and how well you sleep, and set a silent, vibrating alarmPersonalize with interchangeable metal, leather and classic bands (sold separately)Get call, text and calendar notifications at a glance (when phone is nearby)

Track steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. Comes with both small and large size bandUltra-thin, removable tracker hides in bands, pendants and banglesSwim-proof for tracking swimming, life-proof for wear in the ocean, shower, pool and beyondSmartTrack automatically recognizes select workouts and records them to your Fitbit app; Get call and text notifications on your wrist with unique vibration patterns and color-coded LED lightsAutomatically track how long and how well you sleep, and set a silent alarm to wake with a small vibration; LED display lights up to show progress toward your daily goal

Video Reviews:

What Is IPL Hair Removing And How Does It Work?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and it’s a technology used to permanently reduce and remove unwanted hair from the body. This technology works to target the melanin in the hair follicle underneath the skin, which helps break the cycle of the hair’s regrowth. As you continue to use this treatment, it will eventually stop the hair from reaching the surface of the skin.

The IPL hair removal system works by placing the device on the body area you want to target and pressing a button which will release a light pulse targeting the hair follicle in that area. You continue to work on different areas of your body and repeat the process over a period of time until you see the desired results. It usually takes over 4 weeks to see real results, and once you notice hair growth has stopped, you’ll only have to do this process as a maintenance.

There are many IPL Hair Removal systems for home use available on the market today, and we chose to review and compare the Braun Silk Expert and Philips Lumea as both are currently the best selling devices.

Is IPL Treatment Safe To Use at Home?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to use on your skin. The devices we’re featuring in this post don’t require you to wear goggles as they only flash when they come in full contact with your skin. They also automatically adapt to the tone of your skin to provide with the correct light pulse intensity.

Will IPL Give Me Permanent Hair Removal? What To Expect?

No, these systems are made to give you permanent hair reduction. This means that after doing the treatment, you’ll notice visible hair reduction, little to no hair growth and if new hair growth occurs, it will be thin and no longer coarse.

Will It Work For Me?

Before you decide on an IPL system, you have to check the chart for compatible skin tones for each device to make sure it will work on your skin and hair tone. Read on for more information on this.

High performance lamp
Delivers > 100,000 flashes for 4+ years of full body treatments, no replacement lamps neededProvides up to 75% hair reduction after only 2 months or 4 treatmentsPrevents hair regrowth providing long term hair reduction for long-lasting smoothnessDeveloped with dermatologists and tested over 2,000 womenGentle, effective and suitable for different hair and skin tones. Includes skin tone sensor.

Inspired by professional salons, Venus Silk-expert Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is clinically tested for permanent hair reductionCD3028 study conducted 07/08/2013-11/14/2014The safest IPL-technology: the unique SensoAdapt skin tone sensor always ensures the right light intensity, for the safest, most effective treatment.The fastest IPL technology allowing you to treat a leg or arm in just 8 minutes, without compromising on effectiveness.94% of women experienced noticeable results after just 3 months. 89% of women experienced noticeable visible hair reduction, even 12 months after the last treatment.No hidden costs for gels, replacement cartridges or safety glasses. The device is safe and clinically tested for use without glasses.

Now, this is a very important feature to note. In older models of IPL systems, you had to buy replacement flashes to continue using your device. This added additional costs to your initial purchase, which isn’t something that anyone wants.

In the Braun Silk Expert and Philips Lumea, there are no additional costs for replacement parts. You get to use the device for several years until all flashes are used up.

In Silk Expert, the device delivers up to 120,000 flashes, which rounds up to 6 years of use.

In Philips Lumea, it delivers up to 100,000 flashes, which is over 4 years of use.

The Skin Tone Sensor:

With Silk Expert, the skin tone sensor automatically detects your skin tone and adjusts the right light intensity accordingly, which takes the guess work out for you.

With Lumea, the Skin Tone Sensor is more of a safety feature. You manually choose from 5 light energy levels and the skin tone sensor will detect your tone at the beginning of the treatment, if it detects a darker shade, it will automatically shut off the pulses.

Modes:

The Silk Expert has Gentle Mode which is used for first time use and for sensitive areas. And Glide Mode which will allow you to continuously treat large body areas.

The Lumea doesn’t have a gentle mode, but you can manually choose the lowest settings for sensitive areas. It has Slide and Flash mode for continuous use.

Size:

The Philips Lumea is more compact in size.

The Silk Expert is larger in size, but has an ergonomic design that makes it more comfortable to hold.

Which One Should You Buy?

It’s only natural that your decision might be affected by your budget. The Braun Silk Expert is rather expensive in comparison to the Philips Lumea. So, is it worth it that you spend more on your IPL device?

We believe that the Silk Expert is absolutely worth it for so many reasons:

It delivers more flashes, giving you an expected 2 extra years over the Lumea, which means 6 years of use for full body treatment.

The skin tone sensor is more advanced. SensoAdapt technology means you don’t have to guess which light energy setting to use, it automatically chooses the setting for you based on your skin tone. What does this mean for you? Safer use and better results.

Silk Expert is quicker to use. In fact, it is currently the quickest IPL technology available for home use (as of November 2016).

The smart phone application is a huge plus. You might think this is just an extra perk, but it will make a huge difference in how you use your device. Since this is an ongoing treatment, you don’t want to forget your next treatment, or when you applied the treatment last and where to go next. The app helps you exactly with this.

Video Demos and Reviews:

Philips has always been a leader when it comes to health appliances and gadgets. But for a while now, Fitbit has been leading the Activity Tracking game with its many models. So, in this post, we’re looking at the difference between Fitbit vs. Philips Health Watch.

First, let’s look at the features of the Philips Health Watch:

Activity monitor with continuous heart rate monitoring.

Monitors activity, heart rate and sleep quality.

Clinically validated measurements and algorithms. (* Based on the clinical study registered under the NTR number NTR5552 dated 19 October 2015)

At their core, both the Philips Health Watch and Fitbit Blaze offer the same activity tracking that helps you improve your daily lifestyle choices. You’ll get information on your steps, calories burned, workouts, sleeping and more. However, for less the price, the Fitbit Blaze offers more features that gives it a better value than the Philips Health Watch.

The Fitbit Blaze has these following features that the Philips Health Watch DOES NOT have:

It shows you notifications from your phone like calls, text messages, emails, calendars.

It allows you to control music on your phone.

It is compatible with 200 fitness apps already available for iOS and Android, as well as the Fitbit app.

It has built-in GPS to save your running or walking routes on a map.

It is customizable with swappable watch faces and bands and frames that can be purchased separately.

Which One Is Best to Buy?

We believe that the Fitbit Blaze offers a lot for the money, especially in comparison to the Philips Health Watch. Whether you’re a beginner or an athlete, trying to lose weight or simply want to maintain a healthier lifestyle, you’ll be getting a much better experience using the Fitbit Blaze.

The Withings Body Cardio has the feature which allows you to measure your heart’s health along with your other body measurements. Body Cardio gives you great inside of your overall heart health and fitness. It measures Pulse Wave Velocity; a medically-recognized heart health metric that tracks the rate of blood flow, which can be an indicator of arterial stiffness, high blood pressure, and general cardiovascular health.

Another minor difference is the battery:

The Withings Body uses replaceable batteries

Withings Body Cardio has built-in battery that lasts for up to 12 month and can be recharged using the included USB cable.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you, or someone in your family, has a history of heart disease, then the Withings Body Cardio would make a great choice. As of the writing of this post (Sept 2016), it is the only smart scale on the market that’s able to track heart health. Keeping track of your heart’s health is important for you to know your health and fitness level and makes it easy to share data with your doctor whenever needed.

Watch the Video Review:

Some people might see a WiFi body composition scale as just another overpriced gadget. However, for anyone who is serious about weight loss and overall health, this type of scale is a must. Using a traditional scale, you can only tell what you weigh without knowing what makes up this weight. While a smart scale breaks up the weight for you so you can really understand your weight.

What Is The Difference Between the iHealth Core vs. Withings Body?

Full Body Composition analysis: Get high-accuracy weight, BMI, body fat, muscle, bone mass and water measurements thanks to Position ControlTM technology.Automatic Synchronization: Data from every weigh-in appears in the Health Mate app automatically via Wi-Fi (iOS 8+ and Android 2.3.3+)Nutrition Tracking: Set a weight goal and manage your daily calorie budget accordingly with the nutrition tracking feature (in partnership with MyFitnessPal).Daily Weather: Step on your scale to enjoy a localized weather report and plan your clothing for the day.Multi-User: Up to 8 users can weigh themselves and access their personal weight history. Plus the Withings Body automatically recognizes who's who.

Accurately measure weight, body fat, lean mass, muscle/bone mass, water weight, daily calories, BMI, and visceral fat rating using state-of-the-art bio impedance technology for accurate resultsTwo step set up process; scan the QR code and connect the scale to your Wi-Fi. iHealth MyVitals app records readings, lets you set goals, and tracks trends over timeSupports 10 unique users and measures up to 400 pounds. Stores as many as 200 readings offline to sync at your convenienceOne-touch automatic sync with the free iHealth MyVitals app to track your body composition and share with your doctor or fitness instructorFully integrated with the entire family of iHealth products to help you better understand and support your healthy lifestyle

Honestly, both the iHealth Core and Withings Body are neck to neck when it comes to features:

Both measure the same body composition of weight, BMI, muscle, bone mass and water weight.

Both have apps that are compatible with iOS and Android devices, meaning you can have your data sync to your smartphones or tablets running those operating systems.

However, Withings Body also syncs with other apps. In fact, it is compatible with up to 100 other health apps.

When it comes to supported users, the Withings supports up to 8 users while iHealth supports up to 10.

Since both scales pretty much have the same features, we’d recommend the following:

If it matters to you which app you use with the scale, for example if you’re already using another health app and would like to continue to use it, then you’d love the fact that the Withings Body can work with so many apps. Withings also has a web based app that you can access from any browser.

Your other choosing factor would be price. Both are at the same price range but we would recommend you check if there’s any available offers whenever you’re ready to purchase and compare prices then.

Also, watch the following video reviews to get a better idea of how the scales works:

If you’re someone with a medical condition who needs to constantly check their vitals like Blood Pressure or Hear Rate, a wireless blood pressure monitor is a must-have for you. Long gone are the days of bulky BP monitors that make monitoring your BP a dreaded thing. Wireless blood pressure monitors are portable and easy to use anywhere around your home or outside.

Another great benefit of having a wireless blood pressure monitor is the fact that these monitors connect wirelessly to your phone and store your data in an easy to use applications. This is perfect for going through your data history and sharing it with your doctor.

In this post, we’ll look at 3 of the top rated wireless blood pressure monitors on Amazon.

So, how do you choose one of them and how to know which one is the best?

Since a wireless blood pressure monitor is all about the application, we highly recommend you choose one based on the functions of the application:

The Withings Health Mate app has simple and easy to read graphs, and it integrates with any other Withings product you might have, like their smart scale or smart watch.

The Qardio app looks like the most comprehensive app as it shows you graphs, triple measurements, reminders and it geo-tags the locations of where you measured your blood pressure.

The iHealth app has nice colorful graphs, too. It compares your readings to a previous one and to the standard World Health Organization and it sends you reminders, but it lacks the geo-tagging offered in the Qardio app.

Another thing to consider is portability. If you’re planning to take it with you on the go, make sure the dimensions work for you (cited from Amazon):

Withings BP Monitor: 5.5 x 3.5 x 6 inches

QardioArm Monitor: 2.7 x 1.5 x 5.5 inches

iHealth Monitor: 9.6 x 7.7 x 6.5 inches

Although we think that the app functionality is more important than the dimensions in this type of product.

What We Recommend:

We believe the QardioArm to be the best out of all the wireless blood pressure monitors we’ve seen today:

It has a high rating from customers.

It is portable and easy to carry around.

Most importantly, it has the most comprehensive app, and the only one with a companion Apple Watch and Androidwear app.

What Is a Water Flosser and How How Does It Work?

We all know that flossing is an essential part of dental care yet many of us ignore it. If you happened to have a dental issue, have braces or simply want to take extra care of your teeth and gum health, a water flosser should be an interesting thing to have.

A water flosser uses water pressure and pulsation to deep clean between your teeth and gum lines. It’s a great way to get rid of any bacteria or plaque that traditional brushing or flossing can’t reach.

Watch the following video to see how it works:

Waterpik happens to be the leading brand when it comes to water flossers. That’s why in this post, we’ll be look at and comparing two of its water flosser models: Aquarius vs. Complete Care.

The EASY and MORE EFFECTIVE way to flossHealthier gums in just 14 days guaranteed or your money backClinically proven to remove up to 99% of plaque from treated areas and is up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string flossA unique combination of water pressure and pulsations cleans deep between teeth and below the gumline where regular flossing can't reachSafe, gentle and perfect for anyone with implants, crowns, bridges of periodontal pocketsThis unit is compatible with a 120VAC/60Hz outlet and is for use in North America Only

More Effective Brushing and Flossing in One Device! Healthier gums in just 14 days!Clinically proven to remove up to 52% more effective for removing plaque and up to 70% more effective for improving gum health vs. Sonicare FlexcareA unique combination of water pressure and pulsations cleans deep between teeth and below the gumline where regular flossing can't reachPremium Hard-Sided Toothbrush Travel Case IncludedThis unit is compatible with a 120VAC/60Hz outlet and is for use in North America Only

Waterpik Complete Care includes a water flosser as well as an electric sonic toothbrush.

While the Waterpik Aquarius is a water flosser only.

When it comes to features, both models are almost identical, although the Aquarius has a massage mode that the Complete Care doesn’t have.

The water reservoir on both the Aquarius and Complete Care have the same capacity. The capacity here is measured in seconds, and Waterpik mentions that the reservoir holds enough water for 90-seconds use.

The Waterpik Aquarius includes more tips for the flosser, 7 total. The Complete Care includes 5 water flosser tips, but also includes 2 heads for the brush, which brings it to a total of 7 tips.

Which One Should You Buy?

These two models are practically the same water flosser. The question here is:

Do you need the toothbrush,too?

If you’re looking for a complete dental care system that includes a water flosser and a toothbrush, then the Complete Care would be a great choice. It’s a space saver since you’ll have both tools in one unit and use one plug.

However, if you’re not in the market for a toothbrush, then you’ll sure be getting the same features with the Aquarius. In fact, you’ll get an extra feature and that is the Massage feature, and you’ll be getting two extra tips for the flosser.

Waterpik Freedom, How It’s Different From Aquarius and Complete Care?

Waterpik Freedom is a portable, cordless water flosser. Unlike the Aquarius and Complete Care which need to be plugged in, the Freedom flosser works on 3xAA batteries. It’s a perfect solution for someone who travels often. Here are the specs of the Freedom Flosser:

Should You Buy the Waterpik Freedom?

Our only issue with the Waterpik Freedom is that it doesn’t have rechargeable batteries, which means you’ll have to replace the AA batteries often. Waterpik has other cordless models with rechargeable batteries (which are understandably more expensive). One of these models is the Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser:

Video Reviews:

What Makes Helix Sleep a Great Mattress:

One of the best things about Helix Sleep is the fact that it is a mattress fully customized to you and your needs. Before ordering your mattress, you’ll have to answer a few things about yourself like your height, weight, body shape, how you prefer the firmness of your mattress and a few other questions. If you’re buying a couple’s mattress, then you’ll love the fact that you can actually create dual personalization so you and your significant other can get what you want each on your side of the bed! (see how the personalization works in the video below).

Features of the Helix Sleep Mattress:

a mattress customized to your personal liking.

Dual-comfort customization: you can have the mattress split with each side customized differently, or you can choose a blend of the couple’s results to create a medium solution.

Layers of the mattress:

Latex for air flow to keep your temperature cool and for a comfortable bounce.

What Makes Casper a Mattress Great:

Casper is an award-winning mattress that combines springy latex with high-density memory foam to create the perfect mattress. This combination gives you just the right amount of contouring for your body while providing a healthy bounce. The Latex foam has an open-cell design that allows the air to flow openly beneath your body, which ensures you’re sleeping in the right temperature.

Which Is Better To Buy? A Casper or Helix Sleep Mattress?

These two mattresses make a great choice but offer you two different options, so which one you choose depends on what you need:

Helix Sleep gives you full control over how you want your mattress to be. Actually, the customization goes as far as two different customization in one mattress, making it a perfect solution of couples who each have different requirements.

The two brands have different type of layering in their mattresses:

Casper has a 4-layer design and it combines memory foam with latex for the best body contouring while giving you great air flow to keep you cool.

Helix Sleep uses hundreds of microcoils for the best weight distribution, pressure relief and spring, it also has latex on top for air flow.

If you prefer the contouring of memory foam, Casper will provide you with it. It’s been designed to offer you just the right amount of sink and bounce. So you won’t feel like you’re sinking in it like your typical memory foam mattress, yet, you’ll still get the pressure relief benefits memory foam is known for.

However, we totally prefer the idea of a fully personalized mattress like Helix Sleep, which is made for you as an individual and takes in consideration every aspect of your body and personal preferences.